Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-02-18

| Samuel Lut2 has been blessed, there is some
thing pathetic about the venerable man who
has so long survived the generation that he
commenced life with. He stands to-day like n
melancholy monument of the past-of century
crowded with the worlds most prodigious and
significant history He was u child when the
French Revolution struck the knell OF iingly
oppression He saw the star of Napoleon rise
TO its zenith and then sink back into the horizon
and night of ST. Helena. He recalls the death
of Washington and other illustrious patriots OF
this country He was n soldier in the war Of
1872, and was thirteen years of age when Ohio
was admitted into the Union, and his faithful
memory recalls in an accurate, circumstantial
and picturesque way the great events of the
century. II is needless TO say that he has more
personal knowledge of the practical history of
the Scioto Valley than any person living.
DIR. w. w, Waddlc, OF Chillicothe, who is
writing about Mr. Lutz for the Adephi Mars,
and of whose letter free use has been made,
says the Squire rs he is called has but one am
bition, and that is to reach his one hundrcdth
year His wishes to do this for the sake OF his
children, who he thinks have n great deal Of
pride in his old age Squire Lutz is singularly
free from egotism, and he does justice to all the
events which he describes. His life has been an
industrious, upright and successful one and
what he has 10 say will command attention and
respect
Mr.. Lutz talks fuently and often with good
deal of energy. Said he:
Il was born in l7S9, in the year that Wash
ington was first inauguratcd President OF the
United States My birthplace was North
ampton County, in Pennsylvania, very close TO
the line of Bucks County. The date of my
birth was the 18th of March. Washington was
TO have been inauguratcd on the 4th OF that
month, but this installation into office did not
really occur, on account OF some political dini-
culties, until the latter part of April So you
see that l am in reality older than the Federal
Government. On the 18th of October, 1902, my
father and Uncle Jacob, and John LutZ,
bought ZIG acres in the south part of this sec
tion. II had been entered by John Shoemaker
In May, 1871. Shoemaker had sold 200 of his
entry to John May John Karshner, ST., now
owns all but lS5 acres OF that land. There were,
when we came here, q number of settlements
along Salt Creek, but very few people were at
tracted 10 the uplands. The land along Salt
Creek, Plum Run, and along KinniltinniclS, in
cludng Beech Fork, and thence on to the river,
was very rich and fertile prairie Wherever
there was high ground IL was well timbered.
This extent OF prairie was in some places quite
narrow, and in the old pike Hole prairie was at
places quite swampy. The latter had been
under water so long that it produced but one
kind OF grass, which was called "sour grass"
and which strongly resembled wheat before 1t
heads out. When IL was young and tender II
made excellent hay, but when it attained u GER
tain age 1t grew very rank and stin and was
worthless as fodder.
"Just about the time of our removal-or
shortly before-I remember that there was con-
siderable political excitement in the country
over the election OF jefferson and Burr TO be
President and Vice President OF the United
States. At that time the people did not vote
directly for Vice President, and II was brought
before Congress. There Jefferson was elected
President and Aaron Burr Vice President.
remember that there was much excitement
about that election and great deal OF feeling
was aroused
~ can well recall the erection OF this part OF
the Northwest Territory into the State OF Ohio
and was in Chillicothe when the first State
Legislature met there in 1s02 and 1903. Law
yer Michael Baldwin, OF Chillicothe, was the
first speaker OF the House of Representatives.
~ was married on the 18th OF October 1911.
My wife's name was Elizabeth Fetcrolf, who
came here from Bucks County, Pennsylvania
In 1907. She was not quite eighteen years old
when we were united. But" said the Squire,
with an amused laugh, I've didn't have any
old maids in those days. From 1912 until
1920 young men were keenly on the lookout
for marragcable females, and when q new fam
lily put in an appearance the girls never
lacked for suitors. There was a general rush,
and short and sharp courtship resulted in
matrimony.
desirous of accommodating large fortunes as they
are now. And there was wide difference be-
tween the Pcnnsylyanians and the Virginians,
who were the original settlers OF this country.
The Pennsylvanans could beat the Virginians
In raising grain but the latter were their Supe-
riors in stock raising Then Virginia had hun
dred years the start OF the Northern State
Slavery made some difference, but the ordinance
Of 1851 cifectually prevented that from ever
gaining n foothold in Ohio or the Northwest
Territory.
I'm the early days after my coming here, rye
Then the farmers began 10 barrel pork and ship
II In fatbOats during the spring floods 70 New
Orleans. That was carried on until the canal
was opened, and even after. Hannnger, in
Adelphi, used TO ship pork and -four and whisky
So did George VIII. George Dunkle had dis
tilery and mill, and was also very large
shipper.
my service In the war of 1912 was altogether
OF about forty days duration. When Forts
Meigs and Stephenson were besieged went
out under the general call, aud draw pension
for that service now. Harrison could not rein
force Croghan ut Fort Stephenson, and sent
word to him TO evacuate, as he knew II was the
intention 10 attack him, but Croghan was gal
liant soldier and stood his ground and succeeded
In whipping the British very beautifully. The
British thought, they could easily oyerpower
Croghan, and did not bring up their siege guns.
II was a very costly oversight they discovered.
"rhere was great severity practced by the
ofilcers toward their men In that war Rigid
discipline was preserved and descrters were
mercilcssly shot. was "a young man then, but
| was opposed 10 the war. What were my
politlcsi We were all jefferson men here then;
good Republicans, as his party was called at
that time. Sometimes we were called Demo
cratic Republicans, or Representative Demo-
Gratis. At any rate, we were opposed TO the
Federalsts. The theory then was that the peo'
Pile governed themselves, and, as II would be
impracticabe for them all TO meet together,
they were governed by representation.
"In Cbillcothe the feeling was strongly In IA
yor OF war, however, ana when worihington.
who voted against II Ia the U. S. Senate, came
home he was nearly moobed.